Krafty Chicks challenge #822 - Masculine

Good morning lovely friends; I hope your week is going well so far. I'm sharing my card for the new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge and this week we are on Week 4; as always the theme is 'Masculine' and Lori is our hostess. We know it's not everyone's favourite challenge, but we do have to make some masculine cards sometime and this challenge will hopefully help you get them done. We hope you will come over and join in the fun with us.

It was my eldest son's birthday at the beginning of May and I'm sharing the card I made him today.  I usually make him a card that is drum related as he is an avid drummer but it's hard trying to find a new image/die every year, especially as he is now 32!  He also loves Lego so I decided to go down that route this year.  It looks fairly simple but die cutting all those tiny circles took FOREVER, but he's worth it!  I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the 'lego':

Plus I decorated the inside:

I know you can get Lego in lots of different colours these days but decided to stick with the original colours of red, blue, yellow and green.  I used my paper trimmer to cut the rectangles 2" x 1".  I hoped that I had a punch in the correct size to cut the circles but unfortunately I did not so I had to use a die (it was a hole reinforcer die from a tag set) to cut the circles, which as I say took absolutely ages.  I did literally question whether I could actually finish the card as I lost the will to live at one point lol!  Once everything was cut out I added teeny tiny foam squares behind each circle and adhered them to the rectangles.  I made my card base 7" x 7" from white card (I cut one panel 7" square and a second panel 8" x 7" and scored at the 1" line.  I then used this 1" strip as a tab to adhere the panels together).  I fussed about for a while trying to decide on a layout where none of the colours were next to each other and eventually did it.  I cut a white panel 6 1/2" square and adhered the 'lego' with foam squares; some are a little wonky but it's better than horrible!  I created the sentiment on my pc, printed it out and used a decorative edge die to cut it out.  I added this to the centre of the 'lego' panel with foam squares.  I added some scrap white card behind the panel and adhered it to the card base with double sided tape. I finished off by adding some highlights to the 'lego' with a white gelly roll pen.  For the inside I cut another white panel 6 1/2" square and added some left over 'lego' to the bottom with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges: 

Addicted to Stamps and More challenge - birthdays

Allsorts challenge - ATG

Classic Design challenge - ATG optional twist anniversary/birthday

Creative Moments challenge - make it masculine

Inkspirational challenge - for the guys

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Try It On Tuesday challenge - going around in circles (lots of circles on my lego)

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'Masculine' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky. Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori. 

Thank you so much for stopping by; I appreciate your lovely comments. 

Love and hugs,

card supplies 

pc/printer for outside sentiment

*Gina K Designs - on the inside - birthday stamp (for inside sentiment)

Spellbinders - essential rectangles die set

Marianne Design - big tag die set (for hole reinforcer dies)

Limetree Craft - 280gsm silky smooth white card (not available but other options are here and here)

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

coloured card from scraps bin

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 

Thank you x

Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop - October 25

Hello friends, I hope you're doing ok and that you've had a lovely day so far. It's time for a new theme for the Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop, which takes place on the 5th of each month. You always have the option to go for anything goes but the extra prompt this month is 'Halloween', which is great theme and with so many images to choose from such as ghosts, spiders, witches, or even cute trick or treaters, the world is your oyster! I can't wait to see what the rest of my fellow hoppers have made. I hope you can pop over to Instagram and join us. 

I don't make many Halloween things as a rule but as I had bought a new stamp I would have been rude not to use it lol!  I went for a bright lime green and black colour combo and I have to say I love how it turned out.  I hope you like it too. 

Here is my tag:

A closer look at the details:

I decorated the backs too:

I began by die cutting two tags from white card.  I used a lime green ink pad to ink blend over the front of one of them and I went with a heavier hand around the edge for some contrast.  I used my new background stamp and stamped it over the ink blending with black ink.  I also added some black ink around the edge of the tag.  I die cut a spider web from black card and adhered it to the top left corner of the tag with liquid glue.  I die cut a ghost from white card 4 times and adhered them together with liquid glue; I added some black card behind his eyes and mouth also with liquid glue.  I adhered the ghost to the tag with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment onto black card with watermark ink and white heat embossed it before cutting it out with a sentiment strips die.  I added that above the ghost with foam squares.  For the back of this tag I found some lime green paper almost the same colour as my ink blending and adhered that with liquid glue.  I had a little piece of the spider web die cut left over from the front so added that to the bottom right corner with liquid glue.  I stamped a sentiment at the very bottom of the tag with black ink.  For the second tag I kept it really simple; I added a piece of striped paper to the front of the tag and adhered another spider web in the right bottom corner with liquid glue and for the back of the tag I simply covered it with black card to continue the spooky vibe.  I tied both the tags together with lime green spotty ribbon and then added some black twine which I tied into a bow for some extra decoration.  

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges:

AAA Colourful challenge - colour board #20 (I used lime green & black)

Craft Rocket challenge - autumn/Halloween

Crafty Calendar challenge - Halloween

Creative Inspirations challenge - autumn/something spooky

Cut It Up challenge - use more than one die (tag, web, ghost, sentiment strip die)

Double D challenge - trick or treat, smell my feet

Heart's Quest for Shaped Cards & Tags challenge - ATG on a shaped card or tag

If You Give A Crafter A Cookie challenge - spooky fun

Little Red Wagon challenge - H is for holidays (I chose Halloween)

Stamping Sensations challenge - autumn

Tag-along (+ ATC's) challenge - anything autumn

The Four Seasons challenge - ATG fall optional mood board

The Paper Funday challenge - ATG optional cute or creepy

Tic Tac Toe challenge - top row across: die cut/twine/embossing

We Love Stamping challenge - anything autumn

We hope you will be inspired by our Gorgeous Gift Tags Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous tags along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #gorgeousgifttagsOct2025 and we will find your tags.

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

tag supplies:

Waffle Flower - nesting tag dies

Creative Expressions - ghostly manor rubber stamp

Gina K Designs - key lime ink pad

Gina K Designs - large strip sentiments dies

Spellbinders - harvest magic die set (for ghost)

Marianne Design - spiderweb die

MFT - fab-boo-lous friends stamp (for sentiment)

MFT - black & white stripes 6x6 paper pack

WOW! - opaque bright white super fine embossing powder

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth white card

Limetree Crafts - 220gsm black card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

Versamark - watermark ink pad

lime paper from stash

Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop August 25

Hello friends, I hope you're doing ok and that you've had a lovely day so far. It's time for a new theme for the Gorgeous Gift Tags IG Hop, which takes place on the 5th of each month. You always have the option to go for anything goes but the extra prompt this month is travel/vacation', which is fun theme and open to interpretation. I can't wait to see what the rest of my fellow hoppers have made.  I hope you can pop over to Instagram and join us. 

I decided to make a little scene on my tag this month and went bright, summery and cute.  I hope you like it. 

Here is my tag:

A closer look at the image:

Plus I decorated the back:

I began by die cutting the tag and the inner panel from white card (I didn't realise how large the tag was when I bought it - it's 4" x 6" so plenty of room to create my scene).  I ink blended the clouds on the inner panel and added a grey piece of card at the bottom; to imitate the road I used a white gelly roll pen to add some dashed lines.  I stamped the little critter and the sun, coloured them with Promarkers and used the coordinating die to cut them out.  I die cut the cute car from a light orange card, the little clouds from white card and the 'for you' from black card.  I added the inner panel onto the tag with liquid glue as well as the 'road' to the bottom.  I die cut 3 extra cars from white card and layered them with liquid glue.  I adhered the critter with liquid glue and then added that to the road with liquid glue also.  The sun and the 'for you' were adhered with liquid glue and the clouds were added with foam squares.  I found 3 different ribbon/twine that coordinated with my colour scheme and tied them to my tag.  I finished off with some white gelly roll pen highlights.  For the back of the tag I again ink blended the clouds, die cut the 'to/from' from black card and 2 more white clouds; I adhered them all with liquid glue.  A really sweet tag and suitable for children and adults alike I think.  

I would like to enter my tag into the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist summer fun

Allsorts challenge - animals

As You Like It challenge - favourite, cats or dogs (this is a hard one as I love both (and have one of each); cats today but it will be dogs tomorrow lol!)

Aud Sentiments challenge - any shape (except rectangle) and/or washi tape + sentiment

Color Dare challenge - #663 - orange, yellow blue

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Hearts Quest for Shaped Cards & Tags challenge - ATG

Little Red Wagon challenge - masculine

Show Us Your Pussy challenge - ATG but must feature a cat

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - ATG

Sweet Stampin' challenge - use a stencil

Tag-along (& ATC's) challenge - travel

We hope you will be inspired by our Gorgeous Gift Tags Instagram Hop and will pop over and check out all the gorgeous tags along the way. If you would like to join us please visit my Instagram page or use the hashtag #gorgeousgifttagshop2025 and we will find your tags. 

Thanks for stopping by and take care.

Lots of love

 

card supplies:

Marianne Design - big tag CR1551 die set

MFT - mini cloud edges stencil

MFT - cute caravan die set

MFT - missing you every single day stamp & die set

MFT - gifty greetings die set

Gina K Designs - the good life stamp & die set (for sunshine)

Gina K Designs - ocean mist ink pad

Memento - tuxedo black ink pad

Heffy Doodle - alcohol marker friendly card - store now closed

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card - not currently available - but they do have 280gsm silky smooth white card available here

Sakura - white no. 10 gelly roll pen

ribbon and coloured card from stash

My first pop up box card

Happy Sunday friends.  I hope you sun is shining where you are; it's a glorious day here in South Wales.  Today I'm sharing my first ever pop up box card that I made for my brother-in-law's birthday.  He has a shed/bar in the back garden and I thought it sort of looked like a bar when it was finished lol!  

It was quite difficult to photograph so my post is a bit photo heavy:

close up of the die cuts:

I did add a white panel at the back to write my message but forgot to take a photograph of that (I bet you're glad lol!).  I followed a tutorial by Sam Calcott at Mixed Up Crafts that I saw on YouTube, although I got scissor happy and accidently cut off the flaps at the front but I think for a masculine card it looks less fussy this way.  You can watch her video here.  I die cut lots of drink bottles, glasses etc and added them onto acetate strips so that they would look like they were floating.  I also added some extra stars to fill in the gaps.  The sentiment was stamped on a white panel and added to front of the pop up box.  The papers are from a very old 8"x 8" pad that I found in my stash.  It wasn't that difficult to make but I think it looks really effective.  I hope you like it too.  

I am entering the following challenges:

Seize the birthday challenge - make it pop (my card pops up)

Creative Knockouts challenge - fun fold

My Time to Craft challenge - masculine 

Moving Along with the Times challenge - man/boy

Time Out Challenge - inspiration photo (inspired by the drinks)

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day and thank you so much for stopping by. 

Love and hugs, 

Card ingredients:

Marianne Design - beer by Marleen (for drinks die cuts)

Gina K Designs - grand gentlemen (for the large sentiment)

MFT - blueprints 13 (for the stars) - retired

Apple Blossom - time for a beer (for the smaller round sentiment)

DCWV - the natural stack 8x8 paper pad (discontinued)